Help on Slippery Garage Floors

Smooth concrete garage floors can be slick, especially when wet. Slippery floors can be inconvenient or even dangerous. You can form a path with carpet, cover the floor with mats or apply an anti-slip epoxy coating to your garage. These steps will not make the garage safer, but may also improve the value of your home.

Covering the Surface

Cover the concrete floor with mats to prevent slipping. Use carpet or commercial entryway mats to form a path from your car to your home's doorway. Use industrial double-sided carpet tape to hold the walkway in place so you can remove it for cleaning.

Or, cover your entire garage floor with synthetic tile mats. Synthetic tiles snap together. Liquids drain through the raised tiles, ensuring the floor is never slippery. You can also buy a rolled mat custom cut to fit your garage. The textured surface provides sure footing, yet the mat can be removed for cleaning.

Anti-slip Coatings

For a more permanent solution to slippery floors, apply an epoxy coating to your floor. The epoxy surface is durable, attractive and can be formulated with anti-skid additives. Hire a contractor to apply the sealant, or purchase it in a kit for do-it-yourselfers.

Several textures are available for epoxy-coated floors. A commercial anti-skid additive such as aluminum oxide gives your floor a sandpaper-like texture, while ground rubber provides a softer surface with plenty of grip. Mix your additive with the epoxy and roll it onto the floor for a more subtle anti-slip surface or sprinkle it on top as the epoxy is curing for a more aggressive pattern. You can also scatter salt and dissolve it with a hose once the epoxy has cured. The pattern left by the salt crystals resists slipping well.

Applying an Epoxy Sealant

Epoxy application is rather involved, and misapplied epoxy is far less impervious to damage, so follow the manufacturer's instructions precisely. Wear appropriate safety gear, including a respirator, as the fumes can be harmful. Wash and scrub your floor with a stiff bristled brush. Etch the concrete surface with an acid solution to remove grease and make it easier for the epoxy to adhere. Use a paintbrush to edge the perimeter and a roller to apply the epoxy coating to your floor. If sprinkling anti-slip onto the surface, apply it very liberally and blow the excess material away with a leaf blower or vacuum cleaner.